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(No Model.) 7 8 P J. ENGLAND.

. BUCKLE. No. 378,667. Patented Feb. 28, 1888.

IN VENTOR BY Jlwm ATTORNEYS.

Lnho mphen Washington, a. c.

PATENT JAMES ENGLAND, OF NE\V YORK, N. Y.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 378,667, dated February 28, 1888.

Application filed July 22, 1887. Serial No. 245,028. (No moilel.)

To all w/wm it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J AMES ENGLAND, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in StrapFasteners, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my improvement is to provide a fastener for detachably uniting the ends of garter, belt, and other straps,whereby greater facility in adjustment, convenience in use, and security of fastening are obtainable than usual.

I will first describe in detail the strap-fastener embodying my improvement and then point out the various features of the improvement in claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a garterstrap fastener embodying my improvement when unfastened. Fig. 2 is a section of the said fastener when uniting the ends of the strap. Fig. 3 is an enlarged face view of the buckle of the said fastener when unclasped; and Fig. 4 is a section of the same on the line mm, Fig. 3.

The strap A here shown is that of a garter, necessarily of an elastic nature. The fasteningbuckle B has two parallel crossbars, (J and D, rigidly connected at one end by a yoke, E, but separated at the other end, so as to form a laterally-opening slot, F.

In apertured lugs G, projecting forward from the ends of the buckle crossbar D, are held loosely pivots on the ends of a clamp, H, on the forward edge of which is an inwardly-projecting bitingflange, I. In the face of the buckle cross-bar Ois formed, longitudinally thereof, a groove, J, which is adapted to receive the biting-flange I on the clamp when the buckle is clasped, as in Fig. 2.

A tongue, K, projects centrally from the free edge of the clamp H, one'purpose of which tongue is to serve as a finger-piece for manipulating the clamp H.

One end of the strap A is permanently attached to the buckle B by passing it from the rear through the slot F, over and around the front edge of the clamp H, forcing the tongue K centrally through the strap, then passing the same inward between the rear pivotal edge ofthe clamp and the cross-bar D, and out ward, inside itself, around the cross-bar D.

When the free end of the strap is to be clasped by the buckle B, the clamp H, together with the portions of the strap enveloping it, is turned back to the position shown in Fig. 1, and the said free end passed laterally into the open slot F and around the bar 0. The permanentlyattached portion of the strap being under tension tends to draw the free edge of the clamp, to which it is connected, as before stated, toward the bar D, over which it runs, thus causing the bitingflange I on the clamp to wedge the free end of the strap into the groove J of the bar 0.

The clamp H, when swung over, is received between lugs L L,proj ecting forward from the ends of the bar 0, and is thus held, together with the strap, against lateral displacement.

The lug L has a recess, M, in its inner side to receive a pin, N, projectingfrom the corresponding end of the clamp at the free edge thereof, so as to connect the free ends of the bars 0 and D and prevent them from being separated by the tension of the strap.

By pulling on the projecting free end of the strap slack may be taken in as desired, the clamp automatically rising to release the strap, but immediately engaging the strap when the desired adjustment is effected. It is evident that the greater the tension on the attached portion of the strap the more firmly will the clamp be pressed against the clasped end thereof.

In loosening the strap the clamp is slightly raised by means of the tongue K, thereby allowing the free end of the strap to slip over the bar 0, as required; and in unfastening the strap the clamp is swung back to the position shown in Fig. 1, to open the slot F, and the free end of the strap then withdrawn laterally therefrom.

Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a strap-fastener, the combination,with thestrap, of a buckle having cross-bars G and D, and a pivotal clamp, H, having a tongue, K, one end of the strap being received on the tongue K and passed around the bar D, and

the other end of the strap adapted to be passed over the bar 0 and be bound thereon by the clamp H, substantially as described,

' 2. A buckle formed of cross-bars G and D, connected at one end by a yoke, E, but separated at the other end to form a laterally-opening slot, F, and a clamp, H, pivoted on the cross-bar D, and having a biting-edge adapted to engage with the cross-bar O, substantially as described.

3. In a buckle, the combination of crossbars 0 and D, a yoke, E, uniting the ends of the same, apertured lugs G on the ends of the bar D, a clamp, H, having pivots held in the apertures of the lugs G, and end lugs, L L, 

